I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of escaping periodically to a simple cabin on an island by a warm-water sea. I’ve daydreamed of timeless days, except for sounds of distant gulls, and the rhythmic cadence of crashing waves, of thirst quenching, salty silence. I’ve imagined reading when I felt like it, writing when inspired, and aimless walks barefoot on sandy shores, sandpipers walking fast like ladies on the way to the theater.
I imagine each sea scent breath bringing God’s gentle love, and my journal and pen sitting waiting on a simple nightstand, a grand ebony night bursting with stars.
Some have realized this dream, it’s more possible for some than others. Anne Morrow Lindbergh, fortunate to escape to a place by the sea, wrote the classic, Gift of the Sea. Regardless of whether we experience an actual retreat, she says, “Women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves.”
We’re often run ragged, spread thin, compromised, our callings buried beneath self-imposed demands, care-giving, low-self esteem, or even fear. We yearn for solitude to sort it all out and space to think. Yet, we have this chance for renewal and solitude every morning if we seek quiet prayer time. Even though we’re given the gift of free will to return to God each day for such restoration, we shun it, suffocating the better option with food, busyness and work. Or our plate is simply too full as we juggle our children’s needs, housework, finishing taxes and crossing out another item on the “to-do” agenda.
When our true self finally screams out from the cellar for attention, and thank God it does, we realize our Sunday church going isn’t adequate for spiritual nourishment. We need and want the full shebang. We want to return to the full mystery of God. We thirst for lives full with of God’s supernatural love, peace, joy, authenticity and radical renewal. We long for the mystery of God filling our souls with truth that satisfies. It doesn’t surprise me that return is mentioned over seven hundred times in the Bible as part of the human story. Women like us need to return to the fullness of God or risk burying our true selves, letting anxieties triumph.
How sometimes we just need a room of our own! Images of island escapes and cabins in the woods rise from horizons beyond our cluttered landscapes filled with piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and full calendars.
Hildegard von Bingen said if we want the mystery of God revealed to us, “we have to find modern ways to relate to the opening of those spiritual senses, we have to find contemporary ways to holiness, ways that are not confined to life in the cloister, ways that let us seek God right in the depths of everyday life, right in the depth of creation and history, right in the depth of scripture”.
Catherine Doherty wrote a modern spiritual classic, Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude and Prayer. A poustinia, having it’s roots in the Russian word for desert, is a small room or cabin where we meet God in silence who dwells within. She says a poustinia is a lonely place that souls sometimes have to enter, to find the God who dwells within them.
However, Ms. Doherty also wrote about an ‘inner poustinia of the heart‘, a quiet place within each of us we take everywhere. Whether we’re in the desert or city, in conflict or peace, in a time of weakness or strength, we return within for communion with God. In essence, as we attune to silence as a practice, Brother Laurence says “we create a chapel in our own hearts where we may escape from time to time” where we talk to God. But from my experience, this takes practice, of finding quiet rooms and spaces, even if it’s in a corner of our bed with a cup of tea where we meet God daily.
As Jesus says, “whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door”. Or we make our lives a prayer by praying meditating and contemplating God’s word in the kitchen, while exercising, and driving. We can even enter quiet places by listening more and talking less. When I aim to listen to my spouse, my friend, my co-worker, when I focus deeply on their words and the meaning behind their sharing, I also give room for God in the exchange, deepening the meaning of these relationships, allowing the rooting of God dwelling in my heart.
Yes, we must find modern ways in this busy world to return, making our tea time sacred, our meals a reflection of thanks, lighting a candle and taking a warm bath, unplugging, moving the phones from our bedside, far from our journals. It means carving out time on that busy calendar to play the piano, paint that picture even if it means sitting in a park with paint and canvas, or going to the local library to write. If going to the seaside or cabin in the mountains is impossible, we practice the presence of God in our days, weaving within our souls, an untouchable place of our own, a place to return everyday, where the mystery of God dwells, untouched, even if it’s means locking our bedroom doors with a sign that says, ‘my sacred time and space, do not enter’.
I weave a silence on my lips,
I weave a silence into my mind
I weave a silence within my heart
I close my ears to distractions
I close my eyes to attractions.
I close my heart to temptations.
Calm me as You stilled the storm
Still me, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease
Enfold me, Beloved, in your peace.
-The Edge of Glory- David Adam
Is there enough Silence for the Word to be heard?
– T.S. Eliot, Ash Wednesday
WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!
It’s been a few years since I’ve read Gifts of the Sea, but I still have that little book on my “special” bookshelf for books I want to reread one day. Thanks for reminding me of it! We definitely all need places of peace and rest; I often find mine in books. 🙂
I recently read Gifts of the Sea again. As nurturing as it was years ago! Books are also my way to rest and find peace..
blessings Lisa, thanks for visiting!
Great reminder for us to find intimacy with the lord no matter what strains us in the moment. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the poetry as well. Keep it up!
thanks so much for your visit Jenny, and encouragement!
Thanks for the refreshing reminder of how we need to unplug and escape (even in small ways, at home, if we can’t get away to the kind of idyllic retreat we all dream about!) so that we can better connect with God. I am blessed to live near the beach, so I try to take 20-minute walks on the beach whenever I can, just to see God and be reminded of his power. Even twenty minutes makes me feel like I’ve been away for hours! Amazing what it does for the soul!
Thanks for visiting Lizzy..I live near the beach in San Diego..so I too find so much solace on the beach!
Just reading your post made me feel more serene. I especially took to heart what you wrote about finding God in listening more and talking less, because I believe that is striking in its truth about relationships and our own serenity. (And I should know because I talk far too much!) We love and respect others; we love and respect God. “We practice the presence of God in our days.” Loved that!
Hi Hillary, love that you visited and so glad it made you feel more serene! I’m working on the talking less, too!
What I love about what you described is that this is a place we can go to at any time. Funny enough, I am fortunate enough to live on an idyllic island paradise but even here the harried lifestyle can consume us. Thankfully, regardless of where we live, any of us can escape to a quiet place with the Lord. We need just commit to doing so.
Beautiful piece! I will be sharing it widely.
How interesting Marva you live in an idyllic island paradise..thanks for the reminder that even in our earthly paradises we need
those quiet places..we of course always need to turn to God! Blessings, and so very much appreciate your encouragement and
sharing! Lovely to have you visit again!
Hi Kathy! I have a little sign on my bookshelf that reads: Silence is Essential for Thought. Oh, how I agree with that.
Love that idea of a place by water, wouldn’t that be amazing? I was just looking at places for retreats, and saw one that has cabins by a river. The cabins are single occupancy, and the retreat is silent. You bring all your own food, or buy it at a local store. Wow. It sounds amazing, but very hard too. Seven days of silence? I wonder if I could do it? But I know God is at the bottom of that quiet. What a great place that would be.
You have quoted some real spiritual powerhouses here. What beautiful things they say, and all so down to earth and understandable.
Blessings,
Ceil
Omygosh..love you’re contemplating a silent retreat by a river. If you can do it, why not!? Seven days of silence — or
at least seeking silence sounds like an adventure..let us know if you do give yourself what sounds like a beautiful gift!!
I’m taking a deep breath just reading your comment!
Thank you for your encouragement for me to find “a room of my own” at our beautiful Encinitas library yesterday. After making adjustments in my seating on the oceanview deck, away from the gentleman talking full volume on his cell phone, I settled into a lovely serene place that served as my poustinia yesterday morning. The gorgeous fuscia bouganvilla peaking up from behind the deck wall with the gorgeous turquoise and deeper blue Pacific ocean backdrop helped keep me in my poustinia. I wrote and wrote and wrote about what I have learned during my sabbatical as I work to figure out my “current calling” at age 56. You have mentioned to me many times that you need to get away from the distractions of life in the home to do your deep thinking and wonderful writings. After 2 years on my sabbatical, thanks to your urging, I left my home ….drove 3 minutes to a wonderful poustinia. What a difference!!! I experienced a much deeper focus, discipline of thought and intention. I hope to make this a weekly routine. As always, I am extremely grateful for the gifts of your shared wisdom and beautiful friendship.
Oh Theresa, what a beautiful comment and I already feel you sinking into a deeper place. We need one another to remind us
of where we need to go when we meet a crossroad, or when we’re stuck. You so swiftly went into a quiet place there on the
library deck..what a special spot it is. We will surely encourage one another with these quiet place routines!
Ahhhh….a salty silence. I love that. I’m going to meditate on and enter that — just that. Thank you dear Kathy.
I just love you Dorry. It was one of my birthday gifts to you from afar..Ahhh..so glad this inspired you to retreat to a place of your own!
Thank you Kathy for these beautifully expressed words. Words are so powerful and not only do you create a blessing with them, I love how you incorporate the meaningful words and thoughts of others. I read Poustinia many years ago and Brother Lawrence several times and their words created deep channels of refreshing springs in the dry beds of my heart, which have continued to flow over the years.
Over the past several years the Lord has given me time and space, away from busy demands. I haven’t always used that time wisely, but I have learned a few things about busyness (even good works related) and using time as a gift. I am learning, too, how to live a life that breathes God in and out. My life will change again soon, and I am looking forward to the things that God has prepared for me.
I enjoy getting to know you through your writing. Blessings to you.
I am blessed by your words and visit. I’m so glad this spoke to you already deep on the path of solitude and breathing God in and out..
lovely we shared reading Poustinia and Brother Lawrence, so rich! I look forward to connecting with you again Diane, and will visit your blog soon! Thanks so much for the encouragement and kind words.
“we create a chapel in our own hearts where we may escape from time to time”. I felt a chapel in my heart reading your words that flowed gently like calm, shallow waters over pebbles. I know if I make more of a habit of spending time daily with Him upon first waking, my day is set to remember Him in more moments of the day, conversing like a friend.
Thank you for your beautiful encouragement, I love how the words “flowed gently like calm shallow waters over pebbles” — what a gorgeous image!
Ah… you got me at “cabin on an island near a warm-water sea”. LOL
I dream of a writing retreat just like that too, my friend.
I get this so much. I need my quiet time every single day- several times a day actually! I lose a lot of sleep staying up late and praying and listening to what God might have to say. I wonder how busy people who are always surrounded by others (my sister can’t stand being alone and I just can’t imagine her life!) can hear God or find that intimate place in prayer without it. I must have it. I unravel and lose myself if I don’t. I used to walk every single night- and that was my ‘room’. I still do sometimes- the movement of my legs in a consistent rhythm along with the quiet murmurings of the night always brought me that solace and refuge during my 20’s. I would often listen to songs and pray and think… and pray some more and dream. My walks- no matter what time of day were such a significant part of nourishment and they still are.
Now I want that precious place by the water… that sounds heavenly!
I can just see you loosing sleep to commune with God, such a dear saint you are!! I love how walking was your room..that’s beautiful. Walking an
surely be like a prayer! You are a pray-er and a dreamer, and a woman after God’s heart..and you share your blessings from solitude so deeply with such passion! Blessings!
Kathy your words ring so true. May God give us all a hunger for the quiet to hear His voice. (I loved all your quotes, esp. the T.S. Eliot line).
Saying hello from Small Wonder!
thanks Jody for your visit and so glad you loved the quotes!